The Post Sky Tipping Era
Chapter 204 - 162: New Grudges and Old Hatreds

Chapter 204: Chapter 162: New Grudges and Old Hatreds

Li Yi was momentarily stunned upon hearing Master Zhao Ge’s words. Then, when he saw the expressions on both Zhao Qian and Rong Niang, he immediately understood what was going on.

It turned out that his master intended to bring the three of them together.

Wait, why three people?

Could it be that his master was truly so understanding and magnanimous, not minding at all that he was two-timing? Or was there some mysterious power in the name Meng De that could change his master’s mind?

Zhao Ge continued, "Meng De, there’s no need to overthink. Your master has already asked Zhao Qian and Rong Niang about their wishes, and they both have agreed. In my opinion, it’s best you take them both with you. There are no major events happening in Sanyang City now, and it would be good for them to broaden their horizons with you."

"Master, I also want to see the world with big brother," Shou Hou interjected inappropriately at this time.

Zhao Ge glared at him, barely resisting the urge to kick him away. Was he arranging for his daughter and Rong Niang to broaden their horizons with Li Yi? He was fulfilling their relationship, helping his valued disciple settle down and start a family sooner rather than later, lest some enchantress lure him away, and another family benefits from their closeness.

After all, one would rather keep the "fertilizer" in one’s own field than let it flow to someone else’s. If his daughter could form a bond with his closed-door disciple, it would be like adding kin to kin, and the future of the martial arts hall would surely flourish.

After being glared at, Shou Hou sulkily shrank his head and dared not speak again.

At this moment, Zhao Qian and Rong Niang were both looking at Li Yi with shy anticipation, hoping for his response.

Li Yi, however, sighed and said helplessly, "I couldn’t possibly refuse master’s kind intentions, and having Rong Niang and Zhao Qian by my side would indeed save me a lot of trouble. However, I can’t do it this time. With the situation unresolved and the enemies not yet dealt with, taking Zhao Qian and Rong Niang with me would be rash and could lead to unforeseen dangers. Additionally, just today, due to the ghost incident yesterday, someone came to me saying that there is a Gang Refining Expert from the Qingzhou Meng Family with five Qi Cultivation Experts heading straight for Sanyang City. I am still pondering how to defeat them..."

"What? A Gang Refining Expert?"

Upon hearing these words, Zhao Ge’s face changed drastically, and his thoughts of matchmaking were wiped clean by a solid wave of unease and crisis.

Not only him but also Rong Niang, Zhao Qian, and Shou Hou all had their eyes narrow in shock.

A Gang Refining Expert?

Such a martial artist’s presence in Xingzhou was a symbol of invincibility.

Nobody could ignore the threat posed by a Gang Refining Expert.

In the face of such a powerful individual, martial artists at the level of Refining Points could only kneel and bow their heads, not even qualified to speak.

"Why would we attract such a powerful enemy out of nowhere?"

Zhao Ge muttered to himself, but quickly caught on: "It must be because of yesterday’s life span issue, right? I heard from my daughter about this, that you, Meng De, robbed the ghost under the Yin God of more than three hundred years of life span last night. My daughter and Rong Niang were able to break through to the Blood Refining Realm successfully because you extended their lives by twenty years."

"But this act also angered the Yin God, which has led to this trouble," he added.

"Father, it is all my fault. I was the one who provoked the Yin God, causing you to be injured, and now it has led to their retaliation..." Zhao Qian immediately knelt down, her face filled with guilt.

Li Yi said, "This has nothing to do with you; don’t blame yourself. I was the one who got carried away killing the ghost last night."

"No, Meng De. This matter is indeed related,"

Zhao Ge said with a stern face: "Just last month, on the first day of the month, it was also a night when the ghost appeared in Sanyang City. My daughter forgot to close the window of her bedroom at night and was targeted by a Yin God who wanted to forcibly take her away. Your master sensed it and gathered his Qi-Blood to punch the Yin God. However, the adversary was strong and severely wounded me, which resulted in the damage to my Divine Soul. But also due to this, the Yin God gave up on taking my daughter away."

"I thought that was the end of it, but then you, Meng De, killed the ghost and seized its life span last night. Now, with old and new resentments combined, that Yin God must have decided it’s time to send someone to Sanyang City."

"I see," nodded Li Yi, who had also guessed that the Yin God who wounded his master was likely the same one targeting him.

Because the territory of Sanyang City belonged to a specific Yin God. It wasn’t something that would change suddenly.

"Father, just give me up. Perhaps there is still a chance to turn things around. There’s no need for everyone in the family and martial arts hall, including Father and Brother Yi, to risk their lives for mine. It’s all my fault. If I hadn’t provoked the Yin God that time, none of these troubles would have happened,"

At that moment, Zhao Qian knelt on the ground and grabbed Zhao Ge’s hand, hoping she could save everyone by sacrificing herself.

Zhao Ge had a pained expression on his face. He hated that he wasn’t strong enough to break through to the Gang Refining Realm, or else he wouldn’t have to fear the Yin God, nor worry about any formidable enemy attacking.

"Rong Niang, help Zhao Qian get up. Don’t let her keep kneeling," Li Yi calmly instructed.

"Yes, big brother," Rong Niang responded quickly to Li Yi’s command, pulling her junior sister to her feet and preventing her from kneeling.

Li Yi continued, "Zhao Qian, none of this is your fault. That Yin God’s malicious actions are to blame, not you. You should not feel guilty just because you are weak. In my view, that’s nonsense. Master, you don’t need to worry either. I’ve already made up my mind to duel with that Gang Refining Expert at the foot of Daqing Mountain at noon tomorrow."

"What? Meng De, you want to challenge a Gang Refining Expert? No, absolutely not, this can’t happen. I know your strength well; you’re invincible within the Refining Points realm, but if you try to fight someone from the Gang Refining Realm, you will have no chance of winning," Zhao Ge’s face changed dramatically as he hastily said, "Meng De, I urge you not to act on impulse. You should leave right now."

"Taking advantage of tonight, enter Ghost Street and leave the Four Seas and Eight Continents. Come back for revenge when your strength has greatly increased. With your potential and talent, it’s not worth arguing over a moment of superiority or inferiority."

Li Yi said, "If I leave, Zhao’s Martial Arts Hall will be purged. Only by killing that Gang Refining Expert will the Qingzhou Meng Family see our strength as formidable and not dare to attack us, and the Xingzhou Fan Family will mediate the situation, ending this once and for all. If I flee today, the great groundwork we’ve laid will crumble."

"And then it won’t just be one or two people who die. Everyone’s lives will have to pay the price."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Ge also fell silent.

The cost of a Gang Refining Expert coming to settle scores was unbearable for anyone. Zhao’s Martial Arts Hall, which had only just been built up, would end up a bloodbathed slaughterhouse, with no one spared.

"We could escape from the Four Seas and Eight Continents, following the lead of elder brother," Shou Hou suggested at this moment.

"That is an idea," Zhao Ge’s eyes lit up, and then he looked toward Li Yi.

But Li Yi was looking at the sky outside: "Sky Tipping is approaching. We can’t keep running away. Master, no more discussion; my mind is made up. Besides, I have a sniper rifle in my hands — this fight does not entirely lack the hope of winning."

"Firearms?" At that moment, everyone suddenly remembered that Li Yi had in his possession a powerful firearm that could kill enemies from kilometers away.

"Meng De, can that thing work against a Gang Refining Realm Expert?" Zhao Ge now started to doubt.

He knew that using firearms to kill Qi Cultivation Experts was not an issue; this had already been tried. Grandmaster Liu from the Cao Yun Liu Family had had an arm disappear in an instant from a mere graze; a direct hit would surely leave nothing behind.

"There are two types of bullets for that firearm. Zhao Qian only used the first type before. The second type is even more powerful, fiercer, capable of killing Extraordinary Creatures... To put it in terms you can understand, the second type of bullet is meant for dragon hunting," Li Yi explained.

With those words, everyone’s eyes narrowed at once.

Shou Hou exclaimed in shock, "No way, big brother, is it really that powerful? I never saw anything special when little sister carried it around every day."

"Would you be able to tell? You’ve never been hit by it; how could you know?"

Zhao Ge scolded, then seriously added, "If the firearm truly has such terrifying power, perhaps there really is a chance to try. However, we must keep it a secret and never let the Gang Refining Expert find out about the existence of the firearm. If the news leaks and the opponent is forewarned, then it’s all over."

"But, the firearm has been seen in Sanyang City before, and many people are aware of it—it will be hard to keep it secret."

"That’s why I chose to propose the duel in advance, and the site outside Sanyang City. The Gang Refining Expert won’t enter Sanyang City. Being from afar, he won’t have the news about the sniper rifle. Once the battle starts, even if he finds out, it will be too late," Li Yi said, his gaze flickering with calculated thought.

"Makes sense."

Zhao Ge was invigorated, finding Li Yi’s challenge tactic quite clever. Then he realized, "No wonder, Meng De, you chose the foot of Daqing Mountain. With the mountain at your back, the opponent can only come from one direction, and outside Daqing Mountain, the open landscape, a plain, would reveal the opponent immediately, greatly maximizing the advantage of the firearm."

Then Zhao Ge realized something else and immediately lowered his voice, "Shou Hou, go to the martial arts hall and call over a few disciples from the Blood Refining Realm to seal off the area. From now on, no one is allowed to enter or leave the mansion to prevent any leaks. Anyone who disobeys is to be killed at once. The fate and fortune of Zhao’s Martial Arts Hall depend on this scheme; we cannot be careless."

"Master, rest assured, I understand. I’ll just say that brother and Master are in closed-door cultivation and need someone to stand guard," Shou Hou cleverly found a pretext and, after bowing with his fist, dashed off immediately.

Zhao Ge then said, "Meng De, use your eyes to scout for any ghosts that might be eavesdropping. If there are any, kill them immediately to prevent them from signaling."

It was only then that Li Yi realized the importance of having an elder by his side. He had much to learn from such seasoned practices. Nodding, he started to patrol the surroundings.

Because of the events from the night before, he didn’t find any ghosts in the mansion; thus, there was no possibility of ghosts signaling the outside.

Zhao Ge was right to do so, just to be safe.

"Meng De, I appreciate that you said those words to calm your master’s heart, but such important matters should not be spoken of lightly in the future. They should be discussed in secret," Zhao Ge advised afterward.

"You are right, Master. I will remember that from now on," Li Yi nodded.

However, Li Yi’s revelation had its benefits. Now, everyone’s confidence was bolstered, their anxiety eased, and they were all preparing for tomorrow’s decisive battle.

With everyone’s hearts at ease, there was no reason to worry about achieving great things.